Austin Endovenous Varicose Vein Treatment
Endovenous Laser Treatment is an alternative to surgical stripping to certain dysfunctional veins that are below the surface of the skin. The veins most commonly treated at the great saphenous, small saphenous and accessory saphenous veins. These veins are often found on ultrasound testing to be the source of bulging surface varicose veins.
A small laser fiber is inserted, usually through a needle stick in the skin, into the damaged vein. Pulses of laser light are delivered inside the vein, which causes the vein to collapse and seal shut. The procedure is done in-office under local anesthesia.
Following the procedure, a bandage and/or compression hose is placed on the treated leg and worn for about a week. Endovenous Laser Treatment (EVLT ™) performed with a Diomed 810 nm laser is FDA-approved.
It’s important to realize that surface veins usually still need to be treated with either sclerotherapy, foam sclerotherapy, and/or ambulatory phlebectomy.
SELECTED ARTICLES WRITTEN / CO-WRITTEN BY DR. ZIMMET
- Min RJ, Khilnani N, Zimmet SE. Endovenous Laser Treatment of Saphenous Vein Reflux: Long-Term Results. J Vasc Interv Radiol. 2003 Jul;14:991-6.
- Zimmet SE, Min RJ. Temperature changes in perivenous tissue during endovenouslaser treatment in a swine model. J Vasc Interv Radiol. 2003 Jul;14(7):911-5.
- Min RJ, Zimmet SE, Isaccs MN, Forrestal MD. Endovenous laser treatment of the incompetent greater saphenous vein. J Vascular Interventional Radiology, 12:1167-1171, 2001.
